Hibiscus plant named &#34;James Fleming&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of winter hardy  Hibiscus  plant named ‘James Fleming’ is the result of a unique hybridization. This new and distinct cultivar is characterized primarily to its novelty by, its extreme cold hardiness to Zone 4, large, thick-textured, light pink flowers and its ‘maple-shaped’ leaves with a purple coloration, compactness of about 3 feet, its vigorous and uniform growth habit and its floriferous nature from midsummer until frost.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The new plant of this invention is the result of a unique hybridization, with the breeding achievement being evidenced in the outstanding combination of characteristics exhibited by this new and distinct Hibiscus plant, which include:

(a) Refined, 3-5 lobed ‘maple-shaped’ leaves with a purple color and relatively smooth margins which combined compliments the landscape;

(b) Medium-sized flowers that are outstanding for their bright luminescent pink colored, thick textured petals;

(c) The plant being very floriferous with flowers that stay open for at least one full day, sometimes up to 3 days;

(d) The plant being small to medium-sized but vigorous with compact and uniform breaking action which gives it unique landscape utility; and

(e) The plant being so hardy that it can consistently withstand winter temperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘James Fleming’ was the result of a 40-year breeding program. Its ancestry includes Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus coccineus. More specifically, the plant resulted from multiple crossings with an unnamed, Fleming-bred Hibiscus moscheutos (non patented) and an unnamed Fleming-bred Hibiscus coccineus (non patented). The seedling which most nearly met all of the above standards was selected.

This new plant first bloomed in the summer of 1996 and was selected by David Fleming and Gretchen Zwetzig on David Fleming's property located at 8101 S. 14th St. Lincoln, Nebr. 68516. Asexual propagation of the plant by cuttings and root division in Lincoln, Nebr. has shown that the unique and distinguishing features of the plant are faithfully transmitted from generation to generation and appear to be fixed.

Since its origin, the plant has bloomed from midsummer until frost, while exhibiting the aforementioned distinctive characteristics. This hardy Hibiscus plant greatly contributes to the market with its, sheer beauty and utter refinement, its compact growth habit, its enhanced resistance to disease and insects, its stability through extremes in rain and drought, and its extreme hardiness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The flower and foliage of the cultivar are shown at 2½ years in the attached photographs. More specifically, Drawing 1 is a close-up of the flower and the leaf.

The colors are as true as is reasonably possible to attain in photographic illustrations of this type. The colors illustrated may be slightly off due to light reflectance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

What follows is a detailed description of the new cultivar. The specific color descriptions are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, while general color recitations are consistent with ordinary American terminology.

‘James Fleming’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. It is to be understood that the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, light intensity, humidity, and day length without, however any difference in genotype of the plant. The following botanical characteristics and observations are gathered from the plant when grown in Lincoln, Nebr. (USDA Zone 4).

-   The plant:     -   -   Parentage.—Seed Parent: Hibiscus moscheutos, unnamed and             unpatented Fleming-bred seedling. Pollen Parent: Hibiscus             coccineus, unnamed and unpatented Fleming seedling.         -   Comparison between observed plant and parents.—Observed             Plant is 1 foot shorter than parents and has a darker purple             leaf.         -   Comparison between observed plant and other known             cultivars.—Observed Plant is unique, but most similar to             Co-patent application Ser. Nos. 12/317,181, 12/317,182,             12/183, and the other patented Flemings Flower Fields hardy             Hibiscus in that: (a) They are all compact at apx. 3 feet on             average. (b) They are hardy to −30 degrees Fahrenheit. (c)             They all have refined new leaf shapes and colors. (d) They             all have thick, new flowers with new colors that bloom from             the top to the bottom of the plant.         -   Origin.—A selected seedling from stated cross.         -   Type of plant.—hardy, herbaceous perennial.         -   Classification.—Variety of hardy Hibiscus plant.         -   Propagation.—Relatively easy to propagate by cuttings in             apx. 2 weeks; holds its distinguishing characteristics             through successive cuttings and divisions.         -   Size.—About 3-3½ feet tall and about 2½ feet wide.         -   Form.—symmetrical annual growth from perennial roots.         -   Habit.—Upright and uniformly branched.         -   Growth.—Vigorous; medium and compact. Full grown (3-3½ ft)             in 2 years.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy to at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.         -   General health.—Plant is very disease resistant against rot,             aphids, spider mites, scale, white fly etc.; sturdy through             excessive drought, rain or wind.         -   Foliage.—1. Arrangement: Alternate. 2. Shape: Juvenile: 3-5             lobed “maple-shaped” leaves. Rounded base shape. Mature:             Refined, “maple-shaped”, 3-5 lobed leaf with entire to             mildly serrate margins and acute apices; rounded base. 3.             Size: Mature leaf (petiole base to apex): Length is about 4½             to 6 inches or 11½ to 13½ cm, width is about 3½ to 5 inches             or 9 to 12½ cm. 4. Color: Young leaves (upper side)147 A:             (purple cast) N 77A. Mature leaves: (upper side): 147 A,             (purple cast) N 77A. Veins: 61-A. Venation pattern: Palmate.             Venation color: N 77 A. Coloration of the lower leaf             surface: Closest to; a little lighter than 146 B. 5. Surface             texture: Low sheen. Upper: Smooth. Lower: Semi-smooth. 6.             Petiole length: About 2¾ inches or 6.5 cm. Petiole diameter:             2 cm. 7. Petiole color: 146 B.         -   Stems.—The stems are stout at the base, becoming more             slender toward the apices; coloration is consistent with the             petiole.         -   Length.—2-3 inches on average.         -   Diameter.—2 cm.         -   Internode length.—2 inches on average.         -   Stem texture.—Semi-smooth.         -   Stem color.—147 B.         -   Blooming period.—Profuse from July until frost.         -   Flower diameter.—Medium; about 9-10 inches (24 cm).         -   Borne.—singly in the leaf axils, from midpoint of stems             upward.         -   Bloom duration.—Individual bloom lasts at least one full             day; possibly up to 3 days.         -   Form.—Campanulate; petals are also very overlapping.         -   Average number of flowers per season.—300.         -   Bud.—1. Length: About 2½ inches or (6 cm) on day before             opening. Diameter: 1-2 inches. 2. Color: Between 58 and             60-A. 3. Surface texture: Semi-glabrous. 4. Duration: One to             two weeks.         -   Corolla.—Having five petals. 1. Petal character and             dimensions: Campanulate and very overlapping. (a) Length:             About 4½ inches or 12 cm. (b) Width: About 6 inches or             15½ cm. 2. Coloration: Bright light pink. (a) Light pink             petals: 64-D. Coloration of lower petal surface: 77-B and             61-B. (b) Venation in petals: 61-C. (c) Eye zone: Between             46-A and 53-B. 3. Texture: Smooth. 4. Substance: Thick. 5.             Shape: Campanulate and very overlapping.         -   Reproductive organs.—1. Staminal column: Stamen along basal             two-thirds. Staminal length: About 2½ inches or (6½ cm).             Stamen color: N 155-A and 61-C. Pollen color: 12-B. 2.             Style: Terminates upper one-third of staminal column.             Stigmatic lobe color: 61-C.         -   Calyx.—Connate at the base; about 2 inches or (4½ cm) in             length. Color: Between 146-A and 146-B.         -   Stipules.—None.         -   Epicalyx.—Whorl of bracts. 1. Shape: 10-12 slender,             sword-shaped bractlets. 2. Length: About 1¼ inches or (4.8             cm). 3. Color: 143-A.         -   Penduncle.—1. Length: About 1½ inches or (5 cm). 2.             Strength: Stiff and sturdy. 3. Color: Light to medium green             with slight reddish-purple cast. 146-A with 61-C.         -   Seeds.—Size: 1 cm. Color: Grey-brown. Average number: Less             than 100. -   General observations: This plant, as a hybridized hardy Hibiscus, is     valuable to the landscape market for its improvements in thicker     textured and brightly colored flowers and buds, refined “maple-like”     foliage with a purple color, its all-around vigor, compact breaking     action, and adaptation to extreme environments, including the     ability to consistently survive winter temperatures of at least −30     degrees Fahrenheit. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of hardy Hibiscus plant, as herein shown and described, characterized by its compact nature, refined purplish “maple-like” foliage of a purple coloration, its large glowing light pink flowers, its vigor and its hardiness. 